Happy ’80s Birthday to Tim Wallach. He was the Expos 1st round pick in 1979 and homered in his first at-bat. Tim won 3 gold gloves over 17 seasons and inspired a super-collector.
Happy ’80s Birthday to Jerry Don Gleaton, who won 15 games and saved 26 over a 15-year career with six teams.
Former Cubs player and Expos skipper Jim Fanning was born on this day in 1927. Jim was also the first GM in Expos history and oversaw the Montreal expansion draft. He passed away in 2015.
Jerry Coleman was born on this date in 1924. Coleman spent nine years with the Yankees in the late ’40s and ’50s and also served as broadcaster for the Yankees, Angels and Padres. He was named San Diego’s field manager for the 1980 season. Additionally, he flew more than 100 combat missions in WWII and Korea and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses. He passed away in 2014.
9/14/81
Alejandro Pena throws a scoreless inning of relief in mop-up duty for the Dodgers in a 9-1 loss to Atlanta in his big-league debut. He spends 15 years in the major leagues and wins three rings, two with L.A. and one with Atlanta.
9/14/84
Mike Bielecki throws two scoreless innings against the Cardinals in his big-league debut. He wins 70 games over 15 seasons and retires after the 1997 season.
9/14/86
Benito Santiago goes 1-for-3 with a double off Mike Scott in his big-league debut. He wins Rookie of the Year in 1987 and spends 20 years in the major leagues.
9/14/80
Lee Mazzilli’s 7th inning homer snaps a Mets string of 175 2/3 straight innings without a longball. That’s not good.
9/14/80
Eddie Murray goes 4-for-6 with 3 HRs but the Orioles still lose to the Blue Jays 4-3 in 13 innings.
9/14/81
Garry Templeton apologizes for the obscene gesture ha made in an August game and is reinstated to the Cardinals roster. He hits .369 in the remaining 21 games and is traded to San Diego in the offseason for Ozzie Smith.
9/14/82
Richie “The Gravedigger” Hebner and Bill Madlock each hit grand slams as the Pirates beat the Cubs 15-5.
9/14/83
Tommy John throws 13 scoreless innings against the Royals but KC scores a run in the top of the 14th to beat the Angels 1-0.
9/14/84
Steve Carlton beats the Expos 9-5 at The Vet, thanks in large part to two bombs from Schmitty. The win is Carlton’s 12th of the season and 235th of his Phillies career, moving him into first place on the all-time Phillies list. Robin Roberts had been the previous record holder. Carlton still holds the team record with 241 and no one is breaking the record any time soon.
9/14/84
Rookie Mark Langston becomes the first Mariner to win 15 games in a season by beating the Royals, 2 – 1, on a 5-hitter.
9/14/86
Mike Scott strikes out 14 over 8 1/3 innings but the Padres beat the Astros 3-1.
9/14/86
Bob Brenly makes 4 errors at 3rd in one inning but also hits 2 HRs as the Giants beat the Braves 7-6.
9/14/86
In a Royals game against the Mariners, Bo Jackson hits the first home run of his career. Not surprisingly, it was a bomb.
9/14/87
Ernie Whitt’s 3 jacks pace a 10-homer day for Toronto in an 18-3 win over the Orioles.
9/14/87
Mariners leadoff man Mickey Brantley goes 5-for-6 with 3 dingers and 7 RBI, then returns to the bench and asks the photographer, “What the hell are you looking at?”
9/14/87
The Phillies leave 15 men on base and still beat the Cardinals 3-2 in 11. Mike Schmidt’s walkoff single is the game-winner.
9/14/88
Mike Greenwell hits for the cycle. Dude could just hit.
9/14/89
Jeff Reardon becomes the first pitcher ever to record at least 30 saves in five consecutive seasons. He saves 21 in 1990, then has two more 30+ save seasons in 1991 and ’92.
9/14/89
Mike Scott wins 20 for the first time in his career when he and the Astros beat the Dodgers 11-3. Scott becomes the first 20-game winner of the 1989 season. Craig Biggio homers twice and drives in six.
9/14/84
Steve Yeager breaks his leg in a home plate collision with Dave Concepcion. He misses the rest of the season and returns in 1985.
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